No, no, no

I’m short on things to say this morning, and three days offers no additional insight. I am certain, once again, I will never see a woman become president in my lifetime. Hopes dashed, though I was not hopeful enough to go to an election watch party on Tuesday night. I learned that sorry lesson in 2016. Nope, popcorn (3 bowls) and white wine in front of the TV for me. Instead, I will leave the thinking to my children. I will focus on gratitude. I am grateful to have two children who have grown into caring and kind adults who will inherit, if I am lucky enough not to outlive them, this disastrous mess of a world. I think they are smarter than I am.

My son, who does not mince words works in politics and runs a business that does political consulting, strategy and marketing and media (https://www.publitics.com) had this to say on social media about the election results:

On one hand, there’s a lot to unpack from last night’s disastrous loss for Democrats; and for democracy. On the other hand - the simple truth is staring us right in the face. There will be a lot of takes on what happened, and what issues, and themes moved the needle, or didn’t. These takes will be mostly well meaning - and almost entirely wrong. It wasn’t “The economy”, or inflation. It wasn’t Dobbs or Roe. It wasn’t Jan. 6 or The Big Lie. And it surely wasn’t a major misstep by VP Harris or the Harris campaign - they ran a fine campaign. These issues didn’t drive the outcome because national elections aren’t about these issues. Not really. National elections are litigated on race. Period. It’s our original sin as a country.

My daughter is a Rabbi. People who don’t know her often find this an exotic occupation. She is the Hillel Director at Drexel University and wrote the following to the Drexel Hillel Community the day after the election:

This morning America woke up divided. It is not so different than we have been for many years now, but the results of yesterday's election brought that division into sharp relief. On campus, some rejoice in the outcome of this election and many others sit in despair. All of us are feeling this moment in our bodies and souls. Looking out at each other, we wonder whether and how we can build community across such cavernous divides. We wonder whether the project of building community across difference is worth it at all when its supposed benefits so rarely materialize. Nevertheless, here at Hillel we stubbornly hold fast to both our values of inclusion and pluralism. We choose to believe that the brightest future is one where every person is able to flourish in their fullness and has opportunities to share their gifts with the world in safety, dignity and peace. We are not yet living in that world, but our tradition reminds us that “It is not for us to complete the work, but neither are we free to desist from it” (Avot 2:16).

You might share some of their thoughts or feelings. I don’t think I can add much except to repeat my disappointment that misogyny is alive and well in the United States in the 21st century.

The morning after the election, having decided to do so regardless of the outcome, I went out for breakfast to a nearby cafe for hot coffee, fruity pancakes and turkey sausage. The weather was beautiful. On the drive back, a small blue car had stopped on the side of a narrow street a few blocks from my house. I slowed to get around the stopped car. A large black vehicle, maybe a small truck, directly behind me, honked its horn. The man in the blue car, I suppose believing, that it was I who honked, angrily yelled out his car window at me, “You probably voted for Harris.”  What can I say?

There are many poems circulating; sad poems, angry poems, varieties of poems to deal with all the feelings. I’ll leave you with Wendell Berry’s “The Peace of Wild Things.” I’ve likely shared it with you before. Soothing. It’s a favorite. I wish us all peace.